Straightener for shoe soles



Jan. 10, 1933. G. B. DUSINBERRE STRAIGHTENER FOR SHOE SOLES Filed Feb. 24, 1932 W B m S U D B M R [M Patented Jan. 10, 1933 Mrs!) STATES GEORGE B. D'U'SINBERRE, OF WELLSBORO, PENNSYLVANIA STRAIGHTENER FOR SHOE SOLES Application filed February 24, 1932. Serial no. 594,874.

The invention to which the following de scription relates is an improvement over those devices which have been suggested for holding footwear in proper shape after use. The ordinary wear given shoes tends to give a permanent bend to the sole so that the latter' turns up at the toe. This condition is aggravated when the shoe has become damp from wet weather or on account of perspiration of the feet. Under such circumstances when the shoes are left to stand there is a tendency for them to dry out with the toes of the sole turned up. This condition is developed irrespective of the use of shoe trees which fail to apply a straightening effect directlyto the sole and also definitely obstruct the drying out of the interior of the shoe.

My invention consists in the design in the simplest possible manner of a straightening device applied to the bottom of the sole and exerting directly upon the latter a straightening effect.

It is an object of my invention to simplify such devices by the selection of inherently suitable material rendering the article easy to apply and most effective in operation.

Another object of my invention is to simplify the manufacture of such devices and to reduce their cost while at the same time insuring the production of a satisfactory article.

Other objects of my invention will be readily understood from the following description of the preferred form of my device as illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the straightener;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the straightener in use; a

Fig. 3 is a front elevation and;

Fig. 4: is a fragmental enlarged vertical section taken on the line H of Fig. 1.

Without restricting my invention unduly and primarily by way of example I have illustrated in the accompanying drawing one way in which my invention may be constructed although other forms will readily suggest themselves. In the drawing the article is shown to be made from a single continuous strip of flat ribbon-like material. While this may be made of various materials 1 prefer to use resilient spring metal such as steel, brass or similar metals or alloys hav- 5 ing like properties. This flat ribbon-like material is substantially wide, that is the width of the material is considerably greater than its thickness so that the bending char acteristics are different. Vfhile the material may be quite resilient in the direction of its thickness yet the width is so much greater relative to the thickness that the ribbon may not be deformed in the direction of its width except by the use of tools. In its normal operation there is no bending in this direction. The continuous strip of flat ribhon-like material is bent at the points 5 and 6 to provide a mid-portion 7. This portion is in a generally horizontal plane but centrally is further bent or arched to form a ridge 8 with downwardly extending edges 9 and 10. These edgesserve to form a recess in which the front of the toe edge of the shoe is engaged and firmly held against slipping.

Beyond the bends 5 and 6 are two side portions 11 and 12. These side portions are substantially parallel each to the other with their fiat sides in spaced parallel planes as shown inFig. 1. The upper edges 13, 13 may be said to be in aplane parallel to that of the midportion 7. This result is obtained by curving the portions 11 and 12 around the side edge 13 to. form the right angled curve 1 L. Such construction can be carried out with the flat material and reinforces the curved portions.

The method of applying this device and its utility will be readily apparent from Fig. 2. In this view the straightener has been applied to a low shoe, the sole of which 21 has a tendency to bend upwardly at the front end 22 as indicated in dotted lines. To overcome this the mid-portion 7 of the straightener is placed over the front edge 22 of the sole with the edges 13 of the side portions 11 and 12 resting rigidly against the sole 21. It is, therefore, an easy matter to fit the rear extensions 16 and 17 with the ends 20 over the sole edge 22 when the resilience of the metal and the downward pull on the extensions causes the ends 20 to maintain a fixed engagement with the sole.

Straighteners as above described can be cheaply and quickly manufactured. They are adaptableto a wide range of sizes of shoes and can be applied without the use of skill or tools. The mode of construction is such as to hold the article in place as a runner beneath the sole without the need of any other holding means.

By using a flat ribbon-like strip of material I am able to attain a lateral resiliency for the ends 16 and 17 without in any way sacrificing the rigidity with which the side portions 11 and 12 withstand the stresses imposed by the tendency of the sole to bend upwardly at the points 22 and 23.

The above description is by way of example and is not to be considered as limiting he variations possible in my invention other than as may be indicated by the scope of the appended claims.

hat I claim is: I

1. A shoe sole straightener formed of a substantially wide flat ribbon of resilient material having a mid-portion, two side portions bent out of the plane of the mid-portion and curved into positions with their edges substantially parallel with the plane of the midportion, and attaching means on the end of each side portion.

2. A shoe sole straightener formed of a substantially wide flat ribbon of resilient material havin a mid-portion, two side portions bent out of the plane of the mid-portion and curved into positions with their side edges substantially parallel with the plane of the mid-portion and a curved extension on the end of each side portion and in the plane of the latter, and attaching means on each said extension.

3. A shoe sole straightener formed of a single piece of substantially wide flat ribbonllire resilient material, comprising a toe clip, runners in spaced parallel planes perpendicwar to that of the toe clip and inwardly directed attaching means on the ends of the runners.

l-. A shoe sole straightener formed of a single piece of substantially wide fiat ribbonlike resilient material comprising a toe clip,

runners attached to the clip by portions bent around one edge of the piece and in spaced planes perpendicular to the plane of the said toe clip, the free end of each runner having an end portion bent around one edge of the runner and in the same plane therewith, and attaching means on each said end portion.

5. A shoe sole straightener comprising an integral frame of substantially wide fiat spring metal formed at the center to engage the sole at the toe of the shoe and having spaced parallel rearwardly extending portions lying in planes perpendicular to that of the toe portion, and means on the ends of the said portions to engage with the side edges of the. sole at the shank, the narrow edges of the rearwardly extended portions of the frame resting against the bottom of the sole intermediate the points of attachment.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

GEORGE B. DUSINBERRE. 

